Chapter 1734

The moonlight was like silver, spilling over the ruins after the battle, and Zhou Yu's figure appeared exceptionally lonely yet firm. He turned slowly and said to a deputy general beside him: "Zijing, pass the order down: reward the three armies; today's victory is the result of all the soldiers' dedication. At the same time, strengthen defenses; we must not slacken due to a momentary victory."

The deputy general Zijing cupped his hands and accepted the order, his eyes filled with admiration: "The Commander is wise; this subordinate will go and handle it."

Zhou Yu nodded slightly, his gaze once again cast into the distance, while complex emotions surged in his heart. Although this victory was heartening, he also knew well that this was only one stop on a long journey, and the true challenge was still ahead. He remembered the entrustment Sun Ce gave him before he passed away; that heavy responsibility made him feel both pressure and motivation.

Just as Zhou Yu was immersed in his thoughts, a scout ran over hurriedly: "Commander, there is urgent intelligence!"

Zhou Yu came back to his senses, his expression stern: "Speak."

The scout reported: "Although Cao Cao was defeated, he did not return his army to the north, but instead stationed troops at Xu Chang, appearing to have the intention of marching south again."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu's brows locked, but he soon regained his calm thinking. He realized that Cao Cao must have a deep meaning in this move; perhaps he was waiting for an opportunity, or perhaps he was preparing a greater conspiracy.

"Understood, you have worked hard; go down and rest," Zhou Yu said to the scout, then turned to Zijing. "Zijing, it seems we cannot let our guard down. Summon the generals immediately; we need to re-evaluate the situation and formulate the next strategy."

Zijing accepted the order and left, while Zhou Yu stood in place, looking at the stars in the night sky, calculating silently in his heart. He knew that the contest with Cao Cao was not just a military confrontation, but a contest of wisdom and will.

Before long, the Jiangdong generals gathered together again; the command tent was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was tense and serious. Zhou Yu stood before the map, analyzing in detail Cao Cao's troop distribution, grain supply, and possible attack routes, then proposed a bold plan—take the initiative to attack and disrupt Cao Cao's deployment.

"We cannot sit and wait for death; we must take the initiative to attack and seek opportunities for battle," Zhou Yu's voice was firm and powerful. "My mind is made up; I will personally lead the army north to harass Cao Cao's rear, forcing him to split his troops to respond, thereby reducing the pressure on Jiangdong's front."

After the generals heard this, they discussed it heatedly; some worried about insufficient troops, others worried about logistics being difficult to guarantee. But more were trust and support for Zhou Yu's decision.

At this time, the veteran general Huang Gai stood out: "The Commander's plan is excellent! Although this old man is aged, I am willing to go on the expedition with the Commander and swear to defend Jiangdong to the death!"

Zhou Yu looked at Huang Gai, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew well that with such soldiers, why should Jiangdong worry about not winning?

"Good! With you all here, our Jiangdong will surely win!" Zhou Yu said passionately. "But this journey is dangerous; we must make full preparations. Zijing, you are responsible for remaining to guard Jiangdong and ensure the safety of the base camp; Old General Huang, you follow me north, and we will meet that Cao Cao together!"

In the days that followed, Zhou Yu and Huang Gai led elite troops north to harass Cao Cao's rear. They were flexible and mobile, sometimes raiding grain depots, sometimes destroying transportation, causing Cao Cao's army to run about in exhaustion, and their morale to plummet.

As for Jiangdong, under Zijing's meticulous management, logistics were sufficient and the people's hearts were stable, providing a solid guarantee for the battle at the front.

After a successful raid, Zhou Yu and Huang Gai stood side by side on the mountaintop, looking at the burning Cao army camp in the distance, their hearts filled with heroic spirit.

"Old General, look, in this troubled world, only our Jiangdong dares to confront Cao Cao head-on and protect the people on this land," Zhou Yu said with emotion.

Huang Gai stroked his beard and laughed: "The Commander's words are very true. But all of this is inseparable from the Commander's wise leadership and the soldiers' brave fighting. If General Sun were here, he would surely feel proud of this."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu felt a pain in his heart, but it immediately turned into an even firmer determination: "Bofu, the cause you did not finish, I will complete. Jiangdong's future will surely be even more glorious!"

Just as Zhou Yu and Huang Gai were preparing to continue discussing the next step of action, a messenger hurried over, bringing shocking news—another turn of events had occurred in Jingzhou, and a portion of the forces had betrayed the alliance, intending to defect to Cao Cao.

Zhou Yu's face turned iron-blue after hearing this. He understood that this was not just a crisis for Jingzhou, but a crisis for Jiangdong. If Jingzhou fell into Cao Cao's hands, then Jiangdong would face unprecedented threats.

"Old General Huang, it seems our plan needs to change," Zhou Yu said in a deep voice. "We must first stabilize Jingzhou before planning the northern expedition."

Huang Gai nodded in agreement: "The Commander's words are very true. Jingzhou is Jiangdong's barrier and cannot be lost."

Thus, Zhou Yu and Huang Gai quickly adjusted their strategy and led the army south, preparing to pacify the rebellion in Jingzhou. They knew well that this was a battle concerning Jiangdong's fate and could not have any mistakes.

In the subsequent battle, Zhou Yu demonstrated outstanding military talent and leadership. He cleverly used tactics to divide the rebel forces and defeat them one by one. At the same time, he also actively contacted the loyal forces within Jingzhou to win their support.

After a period of arduous fighting, Zhou Yu finally pacified the rebellion in Jingzhou and reconsolidated the alliance between Jiangdong and Jingzhou. And Cao Cao, upon learning that Jingzhou had stabilized again, had no choice but to abandon his plan to march south and instead turned to consolidate his rule in the north.

After the battle ended, Zhou Yu stood on the city wall of Jingzhou, looking at the sky in the distance, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that this victory did not just belong to Jiangdong and Jingzhou, but even more to all those who struggled for peace and justice.

"Bofu, do you see? We did it," Zhou Yu said softly, as if Sun Ce were by his side, sharing this joy of victory with him. "Jiangdong's future will be even brighter. And our journey will continue." ===== CHAPTER 1735 =====